22
For our Music issue, electro-pop songstress Casey Desmond, Freezepop front woman Liz Enthusiasm, hip-hop standout
Moe Pope, and Mean Creek rocker Chris Keene helped us recreate some iconic album art, from our Weezer-inspired cover
shot to Desmond’s take on Bowie’s Aladdin Sane above. See them channel another fab four — and check out other stars
of the local scene — in “Music Matchmaker” on page 22. Cover and above photo by Danny Kim of Visceral Photography.
Desmond’s hair by Elle Powers of Shag and makeup by Jessie Ammons-Carswell.

Letter from the Editor

If you really want to know
someone, steal that person’s iPod.
After all, few things are more
revealing than musical taste.
Favorite songs can become
our personal anthems, and we
sometimes share them with others
to convey a sense of who we are.
(You probably know people who
post their favorite indie songs on
Facebook as though they’re soul<4> 7.17.12

baring revelations. Note: we’re not
condoning this.) Browse through
the artists in someone’s music
library, and you’ll probably have
a well-rounded idea of his or her
identity — and perhaps discover
that the same person who owns
season tickets to Symphony Hall
also has a soft spot for the Britney
Spears Oops oeuvre. (Who says
you can’t love the Pops and pop?)
It’s impossible for me to
disassociate many of my own
memories from music. I’ll never
forget that my first self-purchased
CD — remember those? —
was Weezer’s self-titled debut
(affectionately known as the Blue
Album), the inspiration for this
issue’s cover. I use Madonna eras
to contextualize major life events.
(“Let’s see, the Erotica album had
just come out, so it must have been
around 1992.”) And I have iTunes
playlists dedicated to everything

from high-school party jams to
(bad) European dance tracks that
remind me of a (great) vacation
taken with a best friend.
Music doesn’t just define who
we are and where we’ve been;
it’s the soundtrack to an ongoing,
evolving life story. But where do
you go to discover new music that
will become meaningful to you?
The outlets grow scarce. (Though
our sister radio station, WFNX,
will continue to stream online, the
recent sale of its FM frequency
to corporate conglomerate Clear
Channel reminds us that good
tunes are increasingly hard to
find through traditional means.)
So to help you scour the sonic
landscape, Ariel Shearer pulled
together “Set List” on page 29, a
week-by-week guide to must-see
live shows playing now through the
end of 2012. And on page 22, Miles
Howard plays “Music Matchmaker,”

suggesting cool local bands that
pair well with nationally known
acts you already love. There’s
plenty more music content inside,
from a revealingly ribald chat with
singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson
(see page 10) to an interview with
a hip-hop-loving PR guru with an
awe-inspiring vinyl collection (see
page 46).
I think there’s something here
for everyone. After all, in the words
of a now-classic Madonna song
that I distinctly remember dancing
to at several Boston nightclubs that
no longer exist, “Music makes the
people come together. Yeah.”
See? I’ve no shame in
my musical memories. The
accompanying cowboy hat? Well,
that’s a different story.
Scott Kearnan
Editorial Director
@TheWriteStuffSK

Maybe we’ve just been watching too much
Real Housewives, but on a hot summer
day nothing sounds more refreshing than
blowing off our responsibilities, gathering
a gaggle of our dearest, and sipping
champagne until the sun goes down. (And
then smashing the glass over a friend’s
head. It’s a form of affection.) So we plan
to play serious hooky once The Reserve
opens inside The Langham, Boston (250
Franklin Street, 617.451.1900) next month.
A result of the Langham’s massive lobby
renovation, the Reserve will become the
hotel’s third dining spot, joining BOND
and Café Fleuri. It’s being touted as a
“champagne lounge” with an especially
extensive selection of bubbly. If you’re a
classy broad — say, the type who would
wind up on The Real Housewives of DC
— know that the Reserve will also launch
a traditional Tiffin afternoon tea, served
by staff who have been specially trained
in hoity-toity tea-handling etiquette. The
rest of us? We’ll make like those girls from
dirty Jersey, order up some New England–
and European-inspired nibbles (like Maine
lobster sliders and gazpacho), and keep the
Cristal flowing. On that bitch’s head, a’ight.

They say lightning never strikes twice. How
about five times? This summer, hotel hotspot W
Boston (100 Stuart Street, Boston, 617.261.8700)
is energizing its nightlife scene with the Electric
Summer Music Series. Largely curated by
Boston Phoenix music editor Michael Marotta, the
quintet of live performances and dance parties
will kick off on Thursday, July 26, with a 10 p.m.
show from experimental electro-rock trio Into
the Alpha in the W Lounge. Then on Thursday,
August 9, is an evening inspired by The Donkey
Show, the American Repertory Theater’s discoera reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream; expect a Midsummer-themed
menu in the W’s refined Market restaurant, plus
“mini performances” by Donkey cast members
in the W Lounge at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. For the
full series lineup, including details on DJ-driven
parties at the W’s nightspot Descent, check out
facebook.com/wbostonhotel.

A BLOCKBUSTER HOT

Hollywood blockbusters are often clichéd
— and so are the movie posters that market
them. (Want to promote a romantic comedy
for the “modern woman”? Just surround a
hapless Reese Witherspoon with shopping
bags and anonymous hunks.) Maybe that
paint-by-numbers predictability explains
why we love the subversive approach of
the “Tribute to Blockbuster Movies”
exhibition assembled by Boston’s Super
Precious Gallery (superprecio.us), an
online contemporary-art gallery that tackles
a fresh theme every month or so. July’s
celluloid-inspired cyber-show gathers cool,
colorful, and competitively priced ($20!)
prints, many by Boston-based artists.
The amusing images riff on favorite genre
tropes and flicks like Jaws, E.T., and The
Dark Knight Rises. (Picture an old-timey
poster advertising the showdown between
Batman and Bane as though it’s a bareknuckle boxing match.) Hang these by your
big-screen, and it’s like a personal cineplex.
Just add popcorn.

HOT MIX

Ready to blow the speakers at your summer
block party? Fire up Glory, a thumping nonstop
mix tape (“mix mp3” doesn’t sound as cool)
just released by KarmaloopTV and the Future
Boston Alliance, Karmaloop founder Greg
Selkoe’s nonprofit. With Glory, DJ Brek.One
strings together original mixes of music by 34
Boston artists. (We can’t imagine many other
circumstances in which Passion Pit, Donna
Summer, Aerosmith, Armand Van Helden, and
Karmin could so seamlessly share a stage.)
It also marks the world premiere of a new
single from Dorchester-based DJ and recent
STUFF player Clinton Sparks: “Watch You,” a
collaboration with Italian house producer Benny
Benassi and ubiquitous rapper Pitbull. For your
free download, visit klp.virb.com.
<6> 7.17.12

GET

SEEN

Close

cultured

GETthis...

Even as technology advances,
many audiophiles still adore the
tactile sensation and distinctive
sound of vinyl. Sadly, not all
records have stood the test of
time — and even if you saved
some LPs from the careless
slip of the needle, good luck
finding a player at Best Buy. But
thanks to Pennsylvania artist
Jeff Davis, the beat goes on in
the form of this upcycled 45rpm
clock ($45). For the record, the
striking timepiece features lasercut numbers, aluminum hands,
and a clear acrylic stand. Hit
up Gifted (2 Dartmouth Street,
Boston, 617.716.9924) in the
South End to get yours before
time runs out. Tick tock!

or that...

Instead of watching the seconds tick by until the weather turns cold again, toast the laid-back days of
summer with a set of four record coasters ($14.95). Bearing the name of a fictitious band called the
Watermarks (creators of the hit single “Keep It Clean”), these clever coasters will protect your furniture
from beer rings — so long as your roommates actually remember to use them. Get yours at Paper
Source (1810 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617.497.1077), and give these babies a spin.

— Susan Johnston

top photo by janice checchio

7.17.12 <7>

GETSEEN
…at the Victim Rights Law Center’s Shining Star Gala

Amber Shonts, model with
Maggie Inc.
Amber was an absolute stunner
as she mingled in a couture gown
by Firas Yousif. She wore the handembroidered dress, made from
vintage Chinese silk, with matching
pink heels.
Firas Yousif has been designing
for 20 years and recently opened
a shop on Newbury Street. The
Baghdad native has had a soft spot
for Boston ever since he earned his
MBA at Boston College.
This gown is a departure from
Amber’s off-duty style: a flowing
maxi dress topped with a blazer is
her signature look.

STUFFY:

Samuel Monsour, executive chef at
JM Curley
His deconstructed summer suit
— all from H&M — paired perfectly
with his Sebago boat shoes and
laid-back personality.
Appropriately enough, this
chef calls his style flavorful.
His personal aesthetic is classic
American, simple, and thoughtful —
just like JM Curley’s menu.
He shops most often while visiting
his wife’s native Stockholm, where
he looks for simple but standout
pieces. Back in the States, he tries
“to find clothes as cool as that.”

Naia Kete, singer

The evening’s entertainer — a
former contender on The Voice
— stayed true to her roots in a
maxi dress gifted by a friend and
a headscarf and heels from her
mother.
“Style is another form of selfexpression and how I present
myself to the world,” says the
Northampton native, who now lives
in LA. “This look is authentic to me; I
try to be as honest as possible.”
Her hair is a huge part of her
earthy style. “I haven’t cut my hair
in 22 years. I never wanted to cut it,
because I want to walk the walk.”
To her, that means dressing, eating,
and living as naturally as possible.

Nick Mathews, marketing/
community manager at Uber
We chased Nick around the
party to ask about his take on the
traditional suit. He wore an Express
vest, shirt, and pants with wingtip
sneakers (so cool!) by LA-based
brand Generic Surplus.
He creates his “edgy frat style”
with Levi’s jeans and vests and will
find any excuse to wear a bowtie.
Nick sees Boston as fairly refined,
but he thinks we could step it up if
we moved out of our comfort zones.
“My biggest aspiration for Boston is
to become more connected and be
more open to sharing cool ideas.”

Guitar Stars

Ever been curious about where rock-god guitarists find their tricked-out axes? Maybe you’ve noticed
Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore and his star-shaped shredder, finished with sparkling silver paint and a
fretboard inlaid with pearl stars. Or maybe you caught Boston’s boys of Aerosmith on their summer tour
and wondered where Brad Whitford got his mahogany guitar, whose metallic-green body boasts bright
licks of orange flame. Turns out the Hub is a haven for musicians searching for custom instruments.
We’re home to First Act, a Boston-based manufacturer that specializes in cranking out handcrafted
guitars, drums, and handheld percussion devices. Catering to marquee names and under-the-radar
prodigies alike, First Act allows you to place custom instrument orders and buy limited-edition copies
of previously made products like Lola, a cherry-red love letter to the classic Gibson SG that boasts
stronger pickups and a specially carved heel for added comfort. Its pricing starts at $1,000, but if your
budget only accommodates mass-merchant price tags, take heart: the brand even collaborated with
Maroon 5 front man and longtime client Adam Levine to design 222 by First Act, a line of instruments
sold at Target and billed as the “biggest line of signature musical products ever created for mass
retail.” But if we had our druthers, we’d plump for a one-of-a-kind model — with, say, a double-length
rosewood neck, triple magnetic humbuckers, and a personal paint job. At that rate, it’d probably be
shaped like a dollar sign. To scope the merch, share your specs, and get a price quote, visit firstact.com.

— Miles Howard

<8> 7.17.12

GET SEEN PHOTOS BY melissa ostrow; text by erin souza

starts friday, july 20
This is the one—where tons of new
fall fashion arrives already on sale
and only for a limited time.
Shop in store or ﬁnd even more
at nordstrom.com—but hurry!
prices go up august 6
BURLINGTON, NATICK MALL,
NORTHSHORE, SOUTH SHORE PLAZA

EARN
DOUBLE
POINTS

JULY 20–22

Throughout our entire store and at nordstrom.com
on all Nordstrom credit and debit card purchases.
Double points do not apply to travel units or other
rewards. International orders excluded.

GETclose
...with SingerSongwriter
Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson has been in the music business for
two decades, cranking out soulful folk-rock tunes
like “Come On Get Higher,” often used to set the
tone on shows like Scrubs and One Tree Hill. (We’re
also partial to “Laid,” his rollicking, risqué James
cover that popped up throughout the American
Pie flicks.) But before he played cities across
the country, Nathanson grew up in Lexington,
Massachusetts. He recently returned to the area
for an intimate show at BOKX 109 in Newton’s
Hotel Indigo, part of the Mix 104.1 “Mix Lounge”
concert series. We nabbed him for a fun chat about
everything from instigating make-out sessions on
The Bachelor to oral sex in the olden days.
Ever consider moving back to
Massachusetts? No . . . I’ve lived in San
Francisco for about as long as I lived here, and
I think California suits me a little better in terms
of weather. I love the seasons when I can visit
them. Although sometimes I think I want to
move to New Hampshire and live in the woods
and snowshoe around. But I’m feeling pretty
California-y. There are milder seasons. My blood
has thinned; I’ve become a total wimp.
Gene Simmons was an early musical
influence. Any others? It was all of KISS, not
just Gene — although he did spit fire, which is
badass. KISS was my band. . . . From there I got
into hair metal for a long time. U2 was a band that
straddled the line. Growing up near Boston in the
’80s, as it still is now, it was almost a prerequisite:
you gotta love the Celtics, the Sox, the Patriots,
and U2. So I went to see U2 . . . and it was lifechanging. Seeing them perform in Boston is
like a religious experience. I’ve seen them play
elsewhere, but watching them in the old Boston
Garden was like watching them play to all their
friends. It was the most tingling experience you
could ever have.
You recently tweeted admiration for Kanye
West. Is he your guilty pleasure? I was listening
to his last record, My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy. You’re not supposed to confuse the
art with the artist, and he makes it really easy
because he’s not very likeable in his persona as a
star — but man, he’s so good that it just doesn’t
matter. But no, I don’t have guilty pleasures
musically. I have television guilty pleasures: bad
early-2000s dramedies. I’m embarrassed by my
love of Dawson’s Creek. I like Dawson’s Creek
because I can live vicariously through other
people, instead of my own painful life. I was in
love with Joey. . . . She could have shanked my
mom, and I would have been like, “Yeah, Joey
Potter, way to kill my mom!”
Do you think your recent performance on
The Bachelor, where you serenaded Ben and
Lindzi on a private date, influenced the heavy
petting and make-out sesh that ensued? It
was a lot like being the music for porn. I felt like a
fluffer. It was really strange. It was just these two
<10> 7.17.12

people getting it on. And we just played, and if
we leaned into something a little funky, they really
got into it. I don’t know if you’ve ever been there
when people are macking, but it’s not fun; it’s not
something you want to do every day. I thought
they were just going to be dancing, but then they
started to get their lick on.
How is your newest record, Modern Love,
different from past records? It was produced
more like records in the ’80s, like the Tears for
Fears records and the INXS record, where the
production is as big a deal as the song. We were
trying to get that feel where you hear the song
and it kind of feels like it was beamed in from the

future, but back in the 1980s. Back to the future.
You wrote the single “Modern Love” for a
female friend who dubbed herself “nobody’s
girlfriend.” Why did that strike you so
profoundly? I always thought that was a great
line. Yeah, powerful woman! You don’t need to be
anybody’s girlfriend — men suck, culture sucks,
and it teaches everybody to like Jersey Shore. So
I say go: be your own girlfriend.
If modern love doesn’t cut it, do you consider
yourself an old-school romantic? I don’t think
they had oral sex back in the olden days, so I’m
not that guy. . . . I’m definitely a modern person.

Televised wrestling is rich pop-cultural terrain, a world that has yielded a
wealth of curious characters, from the one-man brand Hulk Hogan to the
Slim Jim-snapping Randy Savage. But dramatic portrayals of wrestling
are usually less compelling than the real thing (probably because the
sport is already an exercise in savvy scripting). Case in point: Jack
Black’s cinematic stink bomb Nacho Libre, which left us with spandexclad nightmares and little interest in re-entering the ring. But this month,
Boston’s Company One offers an artful exploration of televised wrestling
with The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, a comedy from playwright
Kristoffer Diaz that promises to skewer racial caricatures, steroid-riddled
athletes, and whimsical notions of the American Dream.
At the heart of the melee is Puerto Rican wrestler Macedonio Guerra
(Ric Engermann). He’s formidable, but he doesn’t approach the brawny
authority of the game’s top gladiator, Chad Deity (Chris Leon). Insecure and
desperate to dent that champion’s dominion, Guerra plucks a charismatic
Indian-American kid named Vigneshwar Paduar (Jake Athyal) from the
streets of Brooklyn and grooms him to take Deity down. But Guerra’s boss,
in the interest of generating audience-grabbing melodrama, suddenly
decides to reinvent Paduar as a gleefully offensive Arab-world antagonist
called “The Fundamentalist” — complete with fake beard. Guerra’s plan
spirals out of control, and meditations on racial stereotypes, globalization,
and the manipulative ways of the American media ensue.
Subtlety may not exist within the wacky world of Chad Deity — but
then, it’s not present in the real wrestling world that Diaz satirizes. Well
before popular WWE “bad guy” John Layfield started goose-stepping
and heil-ing around the ring in 2004, the sport had often served up
embarrassing displays of stereotypes. (We’re looking at you, Iron Sheik.)
The medium remains ripe for roasting, and critics have championed
Diaz’s comic take on America’s most over-the-top sport. Chad Deity
was named the Best New American Play at the 2011 Obie Awards, and it
snagged a Pulitzer nomination to boot — no small accomplishment for a
play punctuated by body slams. Behold every bone-crunching headlock
during Company One’s production, which runs from July 28 through
August 25 at the BCA’s Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street, Boston,
617.426.5000). For tickets ($15–$42) and show times, visit companyone.org.

— Miles Howard

To DIY For

Allston. It’s the one Boston borough where you can reliably find backyard
barbeques hopping enough to resemble block parties, basements that
double as under-the-radar live-music venues, and the largest population
of innovative Etsy sellers. (Okay, we don’t have the statistics to back that
up, but we’re assuming.) And this summer, the rambunctious ’hood will
celebrate its resourcefulness with the third annual Allston DIY Fest. On
Saturday, July 21, Ringer Park will be transformed into an eclectic arena of
live music, art, and workshops for attendees of all skill sets.
You’d think community-building socializing would be commonplace in
a neighborhood as diverse as Allston, but according to Matt Altieri — one
of the fest’s organizers — getting to know your neighbors, whether they be
across the street or across a concert hall, can be challenging. “Two years
ago, upon moving to Allston, I observed a lot of cliques,” Altieri says. “For
instance, you’d have punk fans and indie-rock fans gravitating toward their
own types. With DIY Fest, the goal is to find common ground by providing
all these great musicians, workshop leaders, and artists with an open venue
for their crafts.”
According to Altieri, the 2012 DIY lineup is the most diverse yet —
and we find it hard to disagree. You can kick off the day with an in-depth
Hula Hooping 101 lesson led by expert undulator Beau Lyle. Then Herbal
Medicine Box’s Annabelle Ho will offer a tutorial on brewing kombucha,
the fermented sweet tea that’s popular in health-food circles. Throw in
a workshop on crocheting with plastic bags, a rousing appearance from
<12> 7.17.12

feminist collective the Permanent Wave, and two music stages for electric
and acoustic acts, and DIY Fest becomes a priority-A experience.
Plus, all visitors are encouraged to flaunt their talents for the crowd. So
if you’re a washboard-rapping champion, get your metal buffed and ready.
If you’re a seasoned painter, pack a canvas and some striking colors. Who
knows? Maybe our own dream of performing Adagio for Strings on the nose
flute will finally find fruition. For set times, visit allstondiyfest.tumblr.com.

— M.H.

bottom photo by ethan long

GETpretty
Tanning Tones

Since its inception in the 1960s, sunless tanning has provided a safer alternative to basking in damaging UV rays. But as the Oompa-Loompas of
Loompaland and the Jersey Shore alike have taught us, you’ll look more silly than sexy if you give yourself an utterly unnatural shade. Luckily, “spray-tan
technology and [sunless-tanning] products have come a long way,” says Ed Ferreira, manager at Forever Tan in Newton. “Two to three years ago, the
technology wasn’t really there — hence the dreaded orange look. But nowadays we have more advanced, coloring-specific technology to look natural.”
For an effect that’s more sun-kissed than Sunkist, you’ll want to tailor your sunless-tanning approach to your hair color and skin tone. So with the peak of
shorts season upon us, we’ve gathered tips that will allow redheads, blondes, and brunettes to fake bake without fear.

— Lauryn Joseph

BRUNETTES

At home: Brunettes’ skin tones can vary
widely, so an adjustable self tanner is a
great option. Xen-Tan Perfect Blend ($43 at
ulta.com) actually has a dial on the bottle,
allowing you to customize your tan and
control just how dark you’ll go this season.
At a salon: Brunettes can pull off darker tans
more easily than blondes and redheads, so
most spray-tan machines — like Mystic Tan
or Ferreira’s pick, California Tan — may be
used panic-free. With California Tan, you
can determine the darkness of application
on a scale of one (lightest) to three (darkest).
“Paler brunettes will want to stay at level
two, while olive-skinned brunettes can
explore the three to create a more intense
bronze,” advises Ferreira.

<14> 7.17.12

BLONDES

At home: A too-dark tan can turn a blonde
from golden goddess to tacky trollop. So
we love Lorac TANtalizer Body Bronzing
Luminizer ($32 at Sephora), which provides
a golden glow with a touch of sheer
shimmer.
At a salon: “Light-skinned blondes should
stay at levels one and two when using a
booth like California Tan,” says Ferreira.
Blondes should proceed with caution
before stepping it up any further; fortunately
Forever Tan provides free consultations so
you can discuss which level will create the
most natural look for you.

REDHEADS

At home: Redheads often have lighter,
freckled skin tones that demand a bit more
discretion. To avoid turning your skin the color
of your hair, begin with a tinted moisturizer like
Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing
Lotion ($11.99 at most drugstores). Once
you’ve established a light bronze base, you
can confidently try a true sunless tanner like
Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning
Lotion ($7.49 at most drugstores).
At a salon: Since tanning can be particularly
tricky for redheads, they are perfect
candidates for airbrush tanning, which
involves a pro spraying the client with a
handheld device. “A professional airbrusher
can give the personal touch that a machine
can’t, to assure you are obtaining the most
flattering tan for your coloring,” says Ferreira.
So don’t be shy: strip down and hold your
head high — and while you’re at it, you might
as well ask them to draw on the perfect
summer abs. What, you don’t think the stars
get them doing crunches, do you?

JOSIAH MCELHENY

BE
DAZZLED
discover a world of glass and light
June 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;October 14, 2012

GETOUT
This weekend-long gathering for
street bladers will get the blood
pumping with a series of group
skates across the city’s most
gorgeous hills and landmarks.
And on Saturday night, you can
celebrate your roller mastery with
the fest’s 7 p.m. dinner party at
Meadhall (4 Cambridge Center,
Cambridge, 617.714.4372), where
the 100-plus beers on tap will help
you nurse bruises and road burns.
To register and learn more, visit
skate-boston.net.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 17

If your ears have ever had the pleasure of encountering Craig Finn, front man of The Hold Steady, then you
know this as well as we do: the dude rocks. Sure, Finn resembles the kind of spectacled, button-downshirt-clad specimen one might encounter at a dot-com startup convention. But since 2004, the Boston-born
guitarist and his band mates have been crafting balls-to-the-wall rock riffs like “Sequestered in Memphis” and
“Stuck Between Stations,” capable of filling a stadium with rambunctious energy. Now, after Finn’s first solo
stint, the Hold Steady are back on the road in full — and tonight they’ll play an 8 p.m. show at Royale (279
Tremont Street, Boston, 617.338.7699). Grab tickets ($20) at ticketmaster.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18
The average comic-book
convention is already a pretty
theatrical experience. Filled with
aspiring (and thus appropriately
costumed) Vulcans, elves, and
androids, they tend to look like
casting calls for a SyFy mini-series.
But now the unabashedly geekedout gatherings are getting an
actual stage treatment with True
Believers, a new production from
Boston-based writer and musician
Thom Dunn. It promises loud
laughs, blossoming relationships,
and the requisite dose of X-Men
in-jokes as an ardent cast of comicculture lovers intermingle at the
local festival. Catch it at the Factory
Theatre (791 Tremont Street,
Boston, 617.817.6600) through July
21. For show times and tickets ($15–
$18), visit brownpapertickets.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 19
Between a frighteningly bulked-up
Tom Hardy as bad guy Bane, Anne
Hathaway fetchingly filling out the
Catwoman suit, and an inevitable
boatload of big-budget explosions,
Batman is really going to have his
hands full this summer. And it’s
<16> 7.17.12

hard to imagine a better buildup
for The Dark Knight Rises, the final
installment of Christopher Nolan’s
artful, box-office-busting trilogy,
than a full-fledged Dark Knight
Marathon. Starting at 6 p.m.,
AMC Loews Boston Common
(175 Tremont Street, Boston,
617.423.5801) will screen all three
of Nolan’s flicks in their gritty glory,
culminating with the midnight
premiere of Rises. Will Bane break
the Bat? Bring your homemade
cape and find out. Get tickets ($25
digital, $40 IMAX) at fandango.com.

raves at this spring’s Coachella
festival, and they’ll soon burn down
Boston with an 8 p.m. show at
House of Blues (15 Lansdowne
Street, Boston, 888.693.2583). Grab
tickets ($30–$45) at livenation.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 21
We like to think that we’ve come
a long way from unintentionally
trimming our neighbors’ rose
bushes via roller-blade wipeouts.
And we can soon put our skills to
the test with Skate Boston 2012.

Even if you managed to forget the
sight of Ryan Gosling stomping a
hitman’s head into summer squash
in Drive, you might recall the
soundtrack: a gorgeous sprawl of
’80s-style pop numbers that paired
seamlessly with nighttime LA. Our
ears have been ringing ever since,
and that’s why we’re looking forward
to catching College, the man behind
Drive anthem “A Real Hero,” live at
Brighton Music Hall (158 Brighton
Avenue, Allston, 617.779.0140). The
French synthesizer savant won’t be
traveling alone. Nantes-based nudisco trio Anoraak will also perform,
packing seductive electronic singles
like “Nightdrive with You.” The show
starts at 9 p.m. Grab tickets ($15) at
ticketmaster.com.

MONDAY, JULY 23
Ever since President Obama and
Jimmy Fallon slow-jammed the
news with the Roots, it’s been
tough to get a truly satisfying funk
fix. But thanks to JP’s Milky Way
Lounge (284 Amory Street, Jamaica
Plain, 617.524.3740), our ear canals
may finally get what they deserve.
July sees the debut of Milky Way
Mondays, a new artist residency
with the local soul-jazz and funk
continued on p18

FRIDAY, JULY 20
Sweden has given the world
much more than affordable futons
and flaxen-haired supermodels.
Consider its export Refused, a
standout of the ’90s hardcore-punk
scene. We still remember our first
encounter with the apocalyptic
metal guitars and blood-curdling
screams of “New Noise,” an anthem
that has hardly been matched since
the band’s untimely breakup. But
maybe they’ll soon top themselves,
now that front man Dennis Lyxzén
and co. have reunited. They ended
their 14-year hiatus by garnering

wizards of Akashic Record. Busting
out slow-burning, loin-flaring brass
and organ numbers like “Freetime”
and “Miami Blues,” the band should
deliver a serious jolt to the start of
the workweek. The no-cover night
kicks off each Monday with trivia at 8
p.m., and the music starts at 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25

TUESDAY, JULY 24

Some were ready to write off Liars after the so-so reception to They
Were Wrong, So We Drowned, a concept album the band wrote after
secluding themselves in a rural cabin and immersing themselves in
witch history and folklore. But then we were rewarded with their 2006
album, Drum’s Not Dead, a hypnotic freak-out of furious percussion,
ghostly guitar melodies, and brooding vocal work from Aussie front
man Angus Andrew. We’ve kept our ears trained on them ever since,
so count us in for tonight’s 8 p.m. show at the Paradise Rock Club
(967 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 617.562.8800), where Liars will
promote their latest, the electronically accented WIXIW. Grab tickets
($15) at ticketmaster.com.

<18> 7.17.12

Our last barbecue ended rather
unceremoniously when things took
a fiery turn — one that engulfed our
backyard fence and several shrubs.
(Our neighbors’ back porch was also
included in the festivities.) So this
time, we’re leaving the open-flame
cooking to a professional like chef
Michael Leviton. The brain behind
Lumière (1293 Washington Street,
Newton, 617.244.9199) is putting
his touch on seasonal classics
with the bistro’s recently launched
Supper Club series. This month’s
undertaking: a Summer BBQ with
mountains of meat and all the fixings.
Priced at $45 per diner, the feast
will be thrown in Lumière’s recently
renovated dining room and washed
down with an optional beverage

THURSDAY, JULY 26
Reason #183 we could never be
on Survivor: foraging for scraps of
food on an island strikes us as labor
properly reserved for the innermost
circle of hell. But thanks to Jasper
White, Spectacle Island is hosting
a much more heavenly feast this
summer. Each Thursday and Friday
night through August 31, you and
the Summer Shack chef can kick
off the weekend early with a Sunset
Clambake. Just hop aboard the
6:15 p.m. ferry from Long Wharf,
and you’ll find a smorgasbord of
steamers, clam chowder, buttery
corn on the cob, chorizo, and other
succulent surprises just across the
water. Grab tickets ($55–$80) at
bostonsbestcruises.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 27
If there exists a story more noble
(and tragic) than Orpheus’s
journey through hell to find his
late wife, Eurydice, we’ve yet to
hear it. But what if things had

GETOUT
haven’t descended upon Boston.
Rather, it’s time for the Charles
River Food Truck Festival at
Brighton’s Artesani Park. From
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a fleet of New
England’s finest meals-on-wheels
specialists will serve up their most
sumptuous fare along the riverbank.
To sample the best of the fest,
simply stock up on Taste Tickets
($1 each) online or in person, and
see where your stomach takes you.
This feeding frenzy will have limited
seating, so bring that quilt and set up
your own base camp. For advance
tickets, visit eventbrite.com.

The Dø

SUNDAY, JULY 29

gone sour between the lovebirds?
And what if Eurydice considered
her trip to hell a vacation, and
Orpheus had to be cajoled into
rescuing his wife? Those are the
questions explored by Orpheus
in the Underworld, a farcical
spin on the classic Greek myth.
The Boston Opera Collaborative
brings the show to the Strand

Theatre (543 Columbia Road,
Dorchester, 617.635.1403) from
July 26 through July 29. Admission
is free. For show times, check out
bostonoperacollaborative.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 28
If you hear a distant rumbling of
engines and the sound of slashing
knives, don’t panic. The Hells Angels

Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy met
while composing music for a bloody
French thriller (Empire of the Wolves),
but they’ve since discovered their
sunnier sides while working together
as The Dø. The duo borrow colorful
percussion styles from hip-hop and
spin reverberant, rhythmic indie-pop
numbers like “On My Shoulders”
and “Slippery Slope.” Heavy on the
guitar licks and ambient noise, the
songs are sharpened by Merilahti’s
cherubic vocal presence. Riding the

waves of their 2011 album, Both Ways
Open Jaws, the Dø are stopping by
T.T. the Bear’s Place (10 Brookline
Street, Cambridge, 617.492.0082) for
a 10 p.m. show. Grab tickets ($10) at
thedomusic.com.

MONDAY, JULY 30
Some nights, we want to feel like
we’re roadies on tour with a hair band
— downing juicy burgers weighted
with cheddar and bacon, slamming
ice-cold Jäger shots, and banging
our heads to teeth-shattering guitar
solos à la Slayer and Metallica. And
this summer, we can find all these
things at Metal Mondays, a new
weekly head-banger bash organized
by the good folks at Charlie’s
Kitchen (10 Eliot Street, Cambridge,
617.492.9646). Local guitar mutilators
Mortuus Ortus, ChinStrap, and
Descend Upon the Sane will shake
the silverware with searing distortion
and feedback as the kitchen slings
its reliable, gut-busting comfort food,
beer, and hard spirits. Get there by 9
p.m. to beat the lines. Cover is $5.

— Miles Howard

For more event picks, sign up for our
email list at stuffboston.com/subscribe.

7.17.12 <19>

tyle

Bohemian
Rhapsody

Summer concert wear has never
looked so effortlessly cool. Vintageinspired fringe jams with sexy
espadrilles and denim cut-offs,
creating a look that riffs on bohochic and rock ’n’ roll. So when you
hit the festival circuit this summer,
pack your favorite pair of shortshorts and grab the best seat on
the grass — just leave your ratty old
band T-shirts off the roster.

Music
Matchmaker
Your Personalized guide to the Hubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hottest Acts
By Miles Howard
<22> 7.17.12

Say what you will about our humble Hub, but Boston is pretty consistently on the cutting edge of music. Still, unless you’re a fixture on the live scene, it
can be hard to discover interesting new artists. Boston is no stranger to the stranglehold of corporate radio stations, and it’s tough to find great new tunes
when you’re constantly subjected to overplayed Top 40. (Alas, we remain immune to Bieber Fever.) So we’ve brought you a roundup of some of the boldest,
brightest local acts to emerge in recent years — and in case you’re nervous about diving headfirst into uncharted waters, we’ve correlated them to morefamiliar radio stars with similar sounds. Whether you’re a shoegazing softie for guitar feedback or an aspiring member of RZA’s entourage, there’s something
for everyone. So read on, wait till your downstairs neighbors have departed for dinner, and crank that sound system to 11.

photo by danny kim of visceral photography

7.17.12 <23>

feature

continued FROM p23

hip-hop
National Name: Common

Pitbull may be monopolizing the airwaves, but you prefer
your hip-hop endowed with more interesting ideas than, say,
having sex at the Holiday Inn. The first time you discovered
Common’s soulful social reckoning “The 6th Sense” was
nothing short of formative — just like “borrowing” your
brother’s Wu-Tang CDs in 1997.

Local Faves: Mr. Lif and Akrobatik
Intellectually creative, cliché-busting rap
enjoys a devoted community of listeners
in Boston, in no small part thanks to these
lyrically gifted MCs. First, we’ve got Mr.
Lif, a Brighton native and sonic disciple
of old-school luminaries like KRS-One. A
player in Boston’s hip-hop scene since the
release of his 2000 EP, Enters the Colossus,
Mr. Lif specializes in bruising, politically
charged verses with slick, genre-hopping
production accents. (For a taste, check out
his epic El-P collaboration “Phantom.”) Then
there’s his frequent collaborator Akrobatik.
Chances are you’ve heard the Dorchester
star rapping sports recaps on JAM’N 94.5,
but Akrobatik’s résumé runs far deeper.
His 2003 debut album, Balance, surged
with teeth-chattering bass and searing
testaments to hip-hop’s endangerment in
the advance of musical corporatism. (We
suspect he’d have scathing words for Chris
Brown.) It’s been a few years since Mr. Lif
and Akrobatik dropped albums, but both are
active in local clubs (and Twitter!), so watch
the web for show dates.

Ones to Watch: Moe Pope and Rain
When Lif and Akrobatik do eventually hang
up their mics, who else will keep Boston’s
hip-hop community interesting? Our
money is on Moe Pope and ace producer
Rain. Their collaborative 2010 album, Life
After God, was a powerhouse, marrying
melancholic, self-reflexive rhymes with
immaculate instrumental production on
tracks like “Foolish” and “Bang Bang.”
Still not convinced? Listen to their 2011
electronic detour, Depeche Moe, which
slathers dark synth waves and industrial
sirens across menacing numbers like “The
Grateful Dead of Night.”

<24> 7.17.12

Moe pope photo by david salafia; rain photo by joe difazio

Synth rock
National Name: The Killers

When it comes to rock, you’re a sensualist. You like the big, beautiful synthesizers, reverberated drums,
and infectious dance-floor hooks heard on singles like “Human.” But you also crave the familiar snarl of an
overdriven guitar when tracks like “All These Things That I’ve Done” become a tad too whimsical.

Local Fave: Freezepop

If you thought the Killers’ Hot Fuss sounded like it came from a 1983 time capsule, just wait until you experience
Freezepop. Fronted by entrancing vocalist Liz Enthusiasm and keytar master Sean T. Drinkwater, the four-piece
delivers bright, bouncy sounds and retro ambience. The synth waves are sharp, sweeping, and colorful, and the spare
guitar blasts provide a hair-raising crunch that pairs well with Enthusiasm’s understated, often ethereal choruses.
Freezepop’s hottest numbers, like “Swimming Pool” and “Bike Thief,” are perfect for driving fast through Boston on a
summer night, windows down and speakers pumping. And the band’s most recent release, “Doppelganger,” took their
glittery game to a whole new level. An infectious number about an encounter with an ex’s strangely familiar new flame,
the song explodes with soaring guitars and thick, erogenous synth leads that would fit right in a rerun of Miami Vice.
Freezepop just wrapped an East Coast tour, but keep an eye out for these regulars on the Boston club scene.

One to Watch: GLpSS †33†H (Glass Teeth)
Like white pants and pastel blazers, sunny synth rock will eventually outwear its welcome. Where do you turn
next? Bite into Glass Teeth, a thrilling producer whose kinetic compositions sound like disco broadcasts from
Hades. Taking notes from Crystal Castles and Goblin’s classic Dawn of the Dead soundtrack, Glass Teeth
(real name Xavier Gath) makes every fuzzy synth note feel like the blow of a hatchet or the screech of a crone.
Backed with fat beats, tracks like “Dead Dreamer” and “Flesh Palace” might induce nightmares, but chances
are you’ll be dancing too hard to care.

roots reggae
National Name: Damian Marley

Your last vacation to Kingston, Jamaica, ended two winters ago, but your ears remain parked on the beach.
You like your guitar chords in quick, soulful slaps, and your drum beats diverse and imaginative on summery
songs like Damian Marley’s “Me Name Jr. Gong.”

Local Fave: Mighty Mystic
In 1989, Mighty Mystic immigrated to the United States from the Jamaican countryside, settling in Boston with his
family. He’d already heard the calling of classic roots jams like “Buffalo Soldier” as a child, but upon discovering
the Hub’s burgeoning ’90s hip-hop community, Mystic predicted a market for localized reggae. After years honing
his craft, he shot to the top of critics’ lists and national reggae charts with his 2006 single “Riding on the Clouds.”
It epitomizes Mystic’s signature sound, a spirited blend of heavy beats, layer upon layer of bright guitar bursts, and
an intense, lung-busting vocal style that would fit in seamlessly on a RZA record. Mystic’s emulsion of old-school
reggae and hip-hop techniques is even stronger on recent cuts like “Original Love.” One can only hope he’ll try
cross-genre collaboration down the road, much like Damian Marley’s triumphant 2008 recording sessions with Nas.
But in the meantime, you can catch him at the Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival on August 11.

One to Watch: Endangered Speeches
Many gravitate toward classic reggae for its pleasant familiarity, but as with any genre, occasional tremors are
needed to keep things fresh. Mariletta Konstantara, the Greek front woman of 13-piece hip-hop and reggae
collective Endangered Speeches, is a source of such sonic shockwaves. She got her first taste of fame in her
homeland, appearing in a pop music video as a bikini-clad teenager, but soon set off for the States and very
different musical territory: the budding songstress put herself through Berklee and emerged ready to bust
rhymes and rock dreads. Backed by a smoking collective of brass and guitars, Konstantara now engineers
the Big Boi–meets–Bob Marley sound of Endangered Speeches. Check out their searing immigration lament
“Dem Borders Will Fall.”
continued on p26
The Killers photo by Torey Mundkowsky; freezepop photo by rick webb; Glass teeth photo by adrienne berlin

7.17.12 <25>

feature

continued FROM p25

alt rock
National Name: Radiohead

Whether it’s the crunchy chords of “The Bends” or the ice
house beats of “Idioteque,” you like your rock music to take
risks, dammit! You remember that fateful day when Thom
Yorke’s falsetto bleats and Jonny Greenwood’s twisted guitar
aberrations first bruised your eardrums, and you’ve been
insatiable ever since.

Local Fave: Mean Creek
Taking their name from a 2004 teen revenge
flick, Mean Creek evokes the formative years
of Radiohead, when songs like “Street Spirit
(Fade Out)” spoke of deep traumas with a few
heartbreakingly naked guitar notes. Mean Creek
sprang from a friendship between singers and
guitarists Chris Keene and Aurore Ounjian, who
once performed folk songs together. Recruiting
bassist Erik Wormwood and drummer Mikey
Holland, they adopted a gut-punching sound,
marrying backwoods vocal harmonies with
alternately clean and dirty guitar notes on tracks
like “Light into Dark” and “Strange Man.” By
2010, the foursome had rocked SXSW and swept
up many awards, including the Boston Phoenix’s
2010 Boston’s Best Act honor. But rather than
rest on their laurels, Mean Creek released their
finest works: the 2011 EPs Hemophiliac and The
Land of Hopes & Dreams. Both display achingly
powerful guitar compositions and confident vocal
showmanship from Keene, who opens his lungs
to the heavens. This fall, they’ll drop their third
studio album, Youth Companion.

One to Watch: Neptune
While we love ourselves a good tearjerking, heart-on-the-sleeves guitar single,
sometimes we need more challenging
rock. That leads us to Neptune. Fronted by
artist Jason Sanford — who created the
band’s instruments from scrap metal back
in 1994 — Neptune has been a noisy, lo-fi
poltergeist that’s shaken up Boston’s altrock community since the release of their
acclaimed 2007 album, Gong Lake. Their
sound errs on the darker, metallic side,
but cuts like “Cash Mattress” prove just as
hypnotically compelling as anything from
Mean Creek’s catalog.

Admit it: you’re a sucker for a silky voice amid big beats and shimmering breakdowns. Belting out “Lights” or “Starry Eyed”
in the shower last Sunday may have earned you an eviction warning, but hey, you couldn’t help it. It’s your nature.

Local Fave: Young London
Bostonians have gotten used to settling for other cities’ exported club bangers. But the tide turned last
summer, when Young London exploded with “Let Me Go,” a Grade-A rump shaker of a single and a calling
card for one of the hottest pop acts the Hub has produced in years. It began in 2010, when musicians Matt
Rhoades and Sarah Graziani were introduced by friends. They clicked and began composing their own
material, envisioning a sonic nebula somewhere between La Roux and Lady Gaga. From the sound of Young
London’s self-titled debut album, which dropped in January, they’ve reached that destination. Rhoades
and Graziani trade vocal duties, filling frenetic dance-floor dynamite like “Celebrity” and “Dangerous” with
alternately seductive and celebratory singing. And Rhoades’s synthesizer virtuosity fills every track to the brim
with beeping blasts of digital overdrive, building like a tsunami before a sweeping climax. The duo are currently
wrapping the 2012 Warped Tour, which stops by Mansfield’s Comcast Center on July 19.

One to Watch: Casey Desmond

You may have caught Casey Desmond singing “Born This Way” on The Voice last year, but the Boston
singer and self-professed synth geek is the product of many influences. Not only do her supercharged
tracks like “Talking to God” and new single “Déjà Vu” invite stylistic comparisons to Young London, but
also to more experimental electro-pop greats like Marina & the Diamonds. She also knows how to dress,
with a wild wardrobe whose neon colors and concepts evoke David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era and Daft
Punk’s acid-fueled anime musical Interstella 5555.

post-rock
National Name: Sigur Rós

Why strum a guitar when you could play it with a horsehair cello bow? You gravitate to Jónsi Birgisson’s glacial guitar
echoes and empyrean vocals. And you’ve got a soft spot for the pulverizing maelstrom of feedback and distortion that
finishes the band’s “Glósóli.”

Local Fave: Caspian
One listen to Caspian’s “Moksha,” and you can tell that this mainstay of Boston’s post-rock sphere treads
the same sonic tundra that Sigur Rós did on releases like Takk… The key difference: Caspian lets the guitars
do all the talking, and they’re not afraid to shred their way to the finish. Guitarist Philip Jamieson and several
friends began crafting celestial sounds in 2003; within months they’d slapped together a rough demo that
earned them opening gigs for Japanese instrumental-rock band Mono. Since then, the six-man outfit has
wowed ear canals with soaring squalls of emotive strings and drums, which play like fitting scores for a
passionate bout of lovemaking or the birth of a new galaxy. Their 2009 sophomore album, Tertia, felt like an
hour-long overdriven climax, strewn with spine-chilling Fender epics like “Ghosts of the Garden City” and
“The Raven.” And Caspian has reportedly finished mixing its third album in Seattle, so expect a late-summer
release and some bruising live shows here in Boston.

One to Watch: Ghost Box Orchestra
Post-rock is kind of like the Taoist concept of yin-yang: to appreciate the sweeping compositions of an
act like Caspian, you need to balance things out with edgier, more experimental players like Ghost Box
Orchestra, a Boston quintet that takes its name from a recording device used by paranormal specialists.
Like patchy transmissions from the dead, Ghost Box’s dissonant guitar patterns yield haunting results.
And like Caspian’s cuts, Ghost Box tracks like “The Lodge” and “The Only Light On” could fill a
cathedral, but their spooky sheen makes for an inimitable sound.

Craving a live-music fix? We chose one must-see show per week for the rest of the year. From pop icons to indie acts, rock
gods to dubstep DJs, these headliners are sure to provide a killer soundtrack for the second stretch of 2012. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcome.

ukimbra: wednesday, october 24, at royale
photo by thom kerr

7.17.12 <29>

feature

continued FROM p29

uWeek of 7/16–7/22
EMALKAY
Wednesday, July 18, at the Middle
East Downstairs (480 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, 617.864.3278)
With Skrillex now winning Grammys,
it’s easy to overlook the grimy
origins of dubstep. Before pop
stars like Usher were pilfering the
clubby sound, underground British
producers were crafting this wobbly
mutant genre of electronic dance
music. The Birmingham-based
Emalkay has long been among them,
and he finally dropped his debut
album, Eclipse, in 2011. It was about
time: with EDM now at the forefront
of American pop culture, dubstep
has infiltrated the mainstream.
Check out this pre-bandwagon
producer as he spins at one of the
summer’s dubbiest dance parties.

uWeek of 7/23–7/29
TWIN SHADOW
Friday, July 27, at the Paradise Rock
Club (967 Commonwealth Avenue,
Boston, 617.562.8800)
Twin Shadow, aka George Lewis
Jr., rides new wave through gritty
realms of rock and dark synth, and
guitar-strong songwriting keeps him
a safe distance from the doldrums of
contemporary pop. His just-dropped
second album, Confess, is the
perfect soundtrack to neon nights;
the new single “Five Seconds”
embodies the spirit of an ’80s school
dance. Twin Shadow brings a punky
disco party to the Paradise this
month, and while leg warmers are
optional, dancing is mandatory.

udragonette: friday, september 14, at the paradise rock club

uWeek of 7/30–8/5
LITTLE SPOON
Sunday, August 5, at the Middle
East Upstairs (472 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, 617.864.3278)
If you enjoy lucid dreaming, you’ll
love Little Spoon. The slow,
hypnotic beats of the Allston artist
(real name: Cameron Potter) have
been described as “blankeywave”
and “pillowpop.” We’d describe
them as feeling like a sonic brain
massage: listening to Little Spoon’s
emotionally laden but lulling guitars,

drums, found sounds, and FX in a
dark room definitely makes for vivid
mind wandering.

uWeek of 8/6–8/12
REAL ESTATE
Friday, August 10, at the Paradise
Rock Club (967 Commonwealth
Avenue, Boston, 617.562.8800)
New Jersey gets big points for
Real Estate. These mellow East
Coast surf rockers play dreamy
guitar melodies and hum-sing
through sensitive lyrics, a winning
combination that creates instant
summertime theme songs. Real
Estate’s 2011 album, Days, became
an indie-critic favorite, and soon
after its release the band embarked
on an international tour, followed by
a gig at this year’s Coachella. Now
they’re bringing their sunny sound to
the Paradise.

uWeek of 8/13– 8/19

ula coka nostra: Saturday, August 25, at the middle east downstairs
<30> 7.17.12

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the
E Street Band
Tuesday, August 14, and Wednesday,
August 15, at Fenway Park (4 Yawkey
Way, Boston, 877.733.7699)
The Boss turned Fenway Park into
a music venue back in 2003, when
he and his merry band staged the
first rock concert ever played at our
beloved ballpark. And this March,

Springsteen dropped his 17th studio
album, Wrecking Ball, a record built
on heavy riffs and pointed cultural
commentary. Its international tour
will bring the enduring icon back to
the stadium for a little “dancing in the
dark” once night falls.

uWeek of 8/20–8/26
LA COKA NOSTRA
Saturday, August 25, at the Middle
East Downstairs (480 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, 617.864.3278)
The elusive hip-hop supergroup
known as La Coka Nostra is
composed of hardcore-rap heavies
DJ Lethal, Danny Boy, Ill Bill, and
Boston’s own Slaine. Their 2009
debut album featured high-profile
guests like Snoop Dogg and
Immortal Technique. And their
second full-length, July’s Masters of
the Dark Arts, is bound to be another
ferocious collaboration. (We’d expect
nothing less from a collective that
includes alums of House of Pain.)

inspired a cult-like following, but
front man Zach Condon retreated
to an isolated cabin for six wintry
months to write songs for 2011’s The
Rip Tide (while, ironically enough,
nursing a perforated eardrum). The
band has been touring internationally
in support of this celebrated third
full-length, and they’ll play House of
Blues before heading to LA for this
year’s FYF Fest.

uWeek of 9/3–9/9
MADONNA
Tuesday, September 4, at TD
Garden (100 Legends Way, Boston,
617.624.1050)
It’s been nearly 30 years since her
debut album, but Madonna is still
flashing her nipple (on her current
tour), shooting her mouth off (in
Lady Gaga’s direction), and using
her electric sexuality and massive
stage presence to empower and
inspire fans worldwide. The pop

legend’s 12th studio album, MDNA,
comes with an international tour,
which is bringing Madonna’s
ecstatic (get it?) live spectacle to
the Garden. The set list includes
classics like “Vogue” alongside the
new single “Turn Up the Radio.”

david Wax Museum
NeW albuM!

uWeek of 9/10–9/16
DRAGONETTE
Friday, September 14, at the
Paradise Rock Club (967
Commonwealth Avenue, Boston,
617.562.8800)
Dragonette’s high-energy electropop is the musical equivalent of
snorting Pixy Stix. The Canadian
trio’s latest single, “Let It Go,” is a
party monster so strong, we could
use it as a post-funeral pick-me-up.
(Sniffle. The dearly departed would
have wanted it that way.) The group’s
catchy creations have been adopted
by DJs and Cyndi Lauper alike, so
continued on p32

uWeek of 9/17–9/23
DAVID BYRNE & ST. VINCENT
Sunday, September 23, at the
Orpheum Theatre (1 Hamilton Place,
Boston, 617.482.0106)
Former Talking Heads frontman
David Byrne has collaborated with
the versatile singer-songwriter (and
Berklee dropout) St. Vincent on a
new album called Love This Giant,
set for release in early September.
Wondering what happens when a
new-wave legend and a baroquepop ingénue make music together?
Fear not. The record’s opening
track, “Who,” offers whimsical
reassurance: Byrne’s voice is as
strong as ever, and St. Vincent cuts
his howls with melodic breathiness.
Insert sigh of relief here.

video cover; the duo have since
mastered the art of heart-melting
with their own spine-tingling folk
ballads, which soften tear-jerking
vocal harmonies with gentle acoustic
rhythms. In late January, First Aid Kit
released their second album, The
Lion’s Roar, pairing painfully honest
folk poetry with upbeat tunes in
tracks like “Blue” and “Emmylou.”

uWeek of 10/1–10/7
MORRISSEY
Friday, October 5, at the Wang
Theatre (265 Tremont Street, Boston,
617.482.9393)
One of the most influential musicians
to ever emerge from England’s rock
scene is visiting Boston to inspire an
evening of alt-pop pandemonium.
The legendary singer-songwriter first
broke ground with seminal ’80s act
the Smiths, but he still performs with
such gusto, he makes age 53 look
more fun than adolescence. Witness
living rock history when Morrissey
takes over the Wang on the first stop
of his 2012 US tour.

uWeek of 10/8–10/14
TOWER OF POWER
Friday, October 12, at the Wilbur
Theatre (246 Tremont Street, Boston,
617.248.9700)

In music, trends come and go (some
mercifully faster than others). But
whether it’s inspiring old-school
disco, influencing modern hip-hop, or
just found in its unadulterated form,
funk music is always hip. That’s why
Tower of Power has been gigging
for more than 40 years, inspiring
pelvic gyrations across generations.
The heart of the band lies in its horn
section, known for massive brass
sounds guided by TOP’s founding
sax men. Let the funky doctors give
you a shot of soul.

uWeek of 10/15–10/21
MARK ERELLI
Saturday, October 20, at Club
Passim (47 Palmer Street,
Cambridge, 617.492.7679)
Massachusetts native Mark Erelli
earned a graduate degree in
evolutionary biology, but now he
pens whip-smart lyrics instead of
academic papers. And by pairing
his socially conscious poetry with
twangy acoustic ballads, he’s
reinventing country music with
surprising sophistication. His folk
musings have garnered plenty of
accolades: for instance, in 2009,
Erelli was invited to contribute to the
Darwin Song Project, which created
a compilation inspired by the father
of evolutionary thought. (Ahem. Ted
Nugent he is not.)

uWeek of 10/22–10/28
KIMBRA
Wednesday, October 24, at Royale
(279 Tremont Street, Boston,
617.338.7699)
Working with Gotye on “Somebody
That I Used to Know” brought her
name to the mainstream, but this
22-year-old songstress is poised
for independent success. Kimbra’s
debut album, Vows, dropped in
the US in May, revealing soulful
idiosyncrasies and boundless vocal
ambition. Her confident delivery
makes the jump from candy-coated
pop tracks like “Cameo Lover” to
jazz scatting in “Good Intent” seem
effortless. Catch this pop pixie when
she rules over Royale.

uWeek of 10/29–11/4
CITIZEN COPE
Friday, November 2, at House of
Blues (15 Lansdowne Street, Boston,
888.693.2583)
Citizen Cope (born Clarence
Greenwood) has roamed across
the sonic landscape. Though he
released his debut album as a
singer-songwriter and guitarist,
he once cooked beats for the althip-hop band Basehead. We love
a multi-talented man, but we’ve
gotten used to Cope’s bluesy
photo by neil krug

howls, which capture the essence
of old-time Americana in lyrical
folklore designed for 21st-century
romantics. Cope dropped his new
album, One Lovely Day, on July 17.
Tonight should be even lovelier.

uWeek of 11/5–11/11
CHRIS ISAAK
Sunday, November 11, at the
Orpheum Theatre (1 Hamilton
Place, Boston, 617.482.0106)
Modern rockabilly is a sonic
subculture — a world of ironic
bouffant hairdos and skit-skattering
drums fit for a concert in a
beachside trailer park. But Isaak’s
dreamy vocals and sex appeal have
long taken elements of the genre
mainstream. The musician and
occasional actor has been writing
and recording rockabilly and surfrock originals since the mid-’80s,
but for his 2011 release, Beyond the
Sun, he covered tracks by legends
like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.
Swoon.

uWeek of 11/12–11/18
ANI DIFRANCO
Tuesday, November 13, at the
Wilbur Theatre (246 Tremont Street,
Boston, 617.248.9700)
Ani DiFranco started her DIY
journey with angst-ridden albums
and lyrics filled with disdain for
major record companies. (So it’s
no surprise that the righteous babe
has run her own record company

since ’89. Take that, label whores.)
Though DiFranco remains a feminist
and folk-music icon, her songs
have seemingly softened over
time. Released in January, her 17th
studio album, ¿Which Side Are You
On?, sounds like gentle poetry in
comparison to her gritty songs of
the ’90s. We’re intrigued to hear her
reined-in righteousness live.

uWeek of 11/19–11/25
THE CHICKEN SLACKS
Thursday, November 22, at the
Cantab Lounge (738 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, 617.354.2685)
With seven epic years of residency
at the Cantab Lounge, the Chicken
Slacks are one of our city’s
best-known house bands. Every
Thursday night at around 9 p.m.,
the Slacks use Southern soul and
classic funk to fill the dance floor.
If you still haven’t sought them out,
there’s no excuse — and this year
the band welcomed a new lead
vocalist and drummer, giving even
ardent fans a reason to watch the
Slacks rejuvenate their groove.

uWeek of 11/26–12/2

Juliana Hatfield
Covers album

278
% 1172
of Goal
PledGes
pledgemusic.com/julianahatfield

CHUCHO VALDÉS QUARTET
Thursday, November 29, at the
Berklee Performance Center (136
Massachusetts Avenue, Boston,
617.747.2261)
The jazz piano compositions of
Chucho Valdés have earned this
continued on p34

utower of power: Friday, October 12, at the wilbur theatre
photo by alex solca

7.17.12 <33>

feature

continued FROM p33

DOWN
TOWN
CROSSING

usimian mobile disco: tuesday, December 10, at the paradise rock club
Cuban artist multiple Grammys
and international praise. He’s
worked with Omara Portuondo of
the Buena Vista Social Club, along
with legends like Herbie Hancock
and Dizzy Gillespie. Tonight Valdés
will bring his virtuoso piano stylings
to Berklee as part of the Celebrity
Series of Boston.

CONOR OBERST
Thursday, December 6, at Converse
Hall at Tremont Temple (88 Tremont
Street, Boston, 617.523.7320)
You’ve probably experienced
Oberst’s influence — even if you
don’t recognize his name. The
versatile singer-songwriter is best
known as the voice behind Bright
Eyes, but with other projects Oberst
has churned out contemporary folk,
indie toe-tappers, and even fuzzy
rock made with Desaparecidos.
He’s something of a wild card, and
that Renaissance Man résumé has
ensured a pretty broad influence on
the indie-music scene. Tonight he
takes his solo tour to Tremont.

uWeek of 12/10–12/16

greaT

liVe
Music

FOOd
PresenTed by

<34> 7.17.12

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
Tuesday, December 10, at
the Paradise Rock Club (967
Commonwealth Avenue, Boston,
617.562.8800)
When their rock band Simian split
up, London-based musicians James
Ford and Jas Shaw put down their
drums and keyboard — and picked
up DJing. As Simian Mobile Disco,
they moved into electronic territory,
remixing other artists and dropping
throbbing house and shimmering
nu-disco of their own production.
The analog artists released their

latest album, Unpatterns, in May —
and we have every reason to believe
they’ll drive us bananas on the
Paradise dance floor.

uWeek of 12/17–12/23
THE STARTENDERS
Friday, December 21, at the Plough
& Stars (912 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, 617.576.0032)
The Solstice Circus is a semiannual
ritual celebrating the longest and
shortest days of the year, and the
Plough & Stars is the Cambridge
bar where this wacky tradition was
invented. Comedians and circus
artists join musicians under one
roof for an evening of eccentric
entertainment. The Startenders
are the house band of the Solstice
Circus, and this impromptu
supergroup of dedicated local
musicians knows how to throw
down all (extra-lengthy) night long.

uWeek of 12/24–12/30
THE MIGHTY MIGHTY
BOSSTONES
TBA
Every year just after Christmas,
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones host
their annual Hometown Throwdown
gig series to reward their devoted
local following. This year brings the
Bosstones’ 15th annual ska-core
holiday celebration, and with the
band currently on tour in Australia,
it could be a while before the
Hometown Throwdown dates and
venues are announced. (Check
bosstonesmusic.com for updates.)
But plan to snatch a ticket, because
one thing is certain: watching front
man Dicky Barrett play “Santa” for
ska kids is a Boston tradition not to
be missed.

SUMMER

Join the MFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stylish
social scene every Friday
evening this summer.

5:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:30 pm

FREE entry with Museum admission
Outside, weather permitting

facebook.com/mfaboston
21+ event, valid ID with proof of age
required for entry.

Tortilla Española at Tres Gatos
Thumbing their noses at the ongoing recession, worthy new restaurants
continue to open at a brisk pace in Greater Boston, leaving restaurant
critics with a high-class problem: not being able to get to all of them
promptly. For instance, Tres Gatos (470 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain,
617.477.4851) opened more than a year ago and has been widely reviewed,
but Food Coma just got here, and we’re ruing the fact. This charming
Spanish restaurant, set in a former private residence (and selling a small
selection of books and vinyl in its back rooms), manages a rare feat: taking
a very traditional approach to some dishes, getting creative with others, and
executing both styles with grace and aplomb.
For instance, I’ve never seen roasted, sea-salted, spiced pepitas
($5) in a Madrid bar (pumpkin seeds are more common in Latin America),
but they’re a terrific snack, a classy update on beer nuts, encouraging
even faster downing of the crisp, easy-drinking, wallet-friendly Ivison fino
sherry ($6). Maybe they serve soft-shell crab ($11) fried in semolina batter
somewhere in Barcelona, but probably not with slivers of scallions and a
Thai-inflected chili-ginger sauce. Regardless, I’d bet no one would object
to pairing it with a tumbler of Basque white, like the lemony, effervescent,
perfectly summery 2010 Ameztoi Txakolina ($10). Does some rustic Castilian
PHOTO BY joel veak

taberna offer slices of grilled lamb’s tongue ($11)? Perhaps, but I’ll wager
they’re not plated next to creamy grits topped with a medium-boiled egg.
Other tapas here lean more canonical, like one of the most exquisitely
tender, buttery plates of jamón Ibérico ($12) I’ve tasted this side of the
Atlantic. No liberties are taken or needed with a wedge of Valdeón ($5),
a mildly intense blue cheese served with a dab of honey and good rustic
bread. And there’s nothing more utterly at home in a tapas bar — nor so
often over-cheffed in American-Spanish restaurants — than tortilla Española
($6), the frittata-like wedge of thin-sliced Yukon Gold potatoes, here properly
bound with nothing more than eggs, olive oil, and sea salt, liberally dosed
with more fine, grassy olive oil. Yes, there’s also a pretty, effusive plume of
aioli, tinted coral with smoky pimentón, but this tortilla hardly needs it, so
fine is its elemental, unadorned flavor. That understated esthetic extends
throughout this place, from the softly lit interior’s chocolate and tangerine
walls, to the cozy patio out front, to service that is at once leisurely and
solicitous, well-suited to the distinctly motley, laid-back JP crowd. Even in a
small city like Boston, it’s hard to keep up with every newcomer — but if ever
a place inspired a “Better late than never,” it’s Tres Gatos.

Crossing the street from Park Square’s
bustle into Erbaluce (69 Church Street,
Boston, 617.426.6969) is a little like
walking through the train station on your
way to Hogwarts. Hidden in plain view,
the tiny, quite perfect restaurant is a
little bit Left Bank, a little bit Italian villa,
and a lot of chef-owner Charles Draghi.
A classically trained professional’s
professional, he’s at his stove every
night; he is the savory chef and the
pastry chef. (Note his recent star turn
on the Food Network’s Sweet Genius.)
Fittingly for someone who works a stone’s throw from the Theater District,
Draghi also writes plays, speaks with Shakespearean eloquence, and
befriends artists and actors. And boy, does he love his music.
Are you a musician? I play the harmonica. We grew up listening to Mario
Lanza in a classic Italian household. . . . There was a lot of cha-cha-cha
and big-band music in our house. But I am a big jazz fan — Lee Morgan,
the trumpet player with the Jazz Messengers, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis.
When I was a kid, a neighbor had me listen to Coltrane with my eyes closed.
I could see things — shapes, colors. It forever changed the way I thought
about music.
How does music impact your cooking? I think of my cooking as bluenote cooking. When I cook, I think about Coltrane. The music is running into
my food. What would Lee Morgan do with this? How would John Coltrane
cook this fish? You know what blue note is, right? Bebop? No? Well, it’s
amazingly technical music that came out of the big-band era. The greats of
jazz — Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker — hated the word jazz; they thought
it was a denigrating term that sounded like promiscuous sex and came out
of a whorehouse. They were adamant about calling their music American
classical music. Parker would break up each chord into five or seven notes,
and then break up the time signature faster and faster into smaller notes
— quarter notes, eighth notes, 16th notes, 32nd notes — a flurry of intense
staccato notes. Too challenging for the casual listeners, but musicians
loved it. Along came blue-note jazz. Simple, old-school, the blues played
with a swing eighth note tucked in. A little bit of a minor key, dangling,
visceral, primitive, and played with amazing technical brilliance.
So, what’s blue-note cooking? My cooking is about starting with artistry
and classical training — French, North African, Italian — the technical ability
to do anything complex with food, and knowing how to pare it back, how to
shed technique, how to take food to its purest primal essence.
How does that theory translate on the menu? My food is simple: fish
and greens, meat and potatoes, beans. But the people who eat at Erbaluce
find it complex. Take, for example, a fish like a flounder. Classical French
technique is to take the fillet off the bone, spiral it into a rosette, and top it
with a perfect beurre blanc sauce. That’s what I was trained to do. But as
a blue-note chef, I know that if I take the fish off the bone, I’ll be leaving the
core essence of the fish behind, the flavor of the sea. So I cook it whole.
When I cook, I think, “Let’s play the blues; let’s play old-school country.”
The reaction from our guests is amazing.
Is cooking an art or a craft? I’m in the middle generation of chefs. I was
trained by chefs who considered each dish a work of art, each sauce their
identifiable signature. The next generation after me is all about the craft
of cooking — back to the farmhouse, the old-school charcuterie, nose to
tail. You can’t tell which chef made the food, but it tastes really good. I’m
somewhere in the middle, in between art and craft.

— Louisa Kasdon

Louisa Kasdon can be reached at louisa@louisakasdon.com.

feed

STUFFIT

Chef Brian Poe is used to refining wild beasts.
When he arrived at The Rattlesnake in 2009,
he gave the previously unexceptional Boylston
Street bar an actual culinary program — dubbed
Poe’s Kitchen at The Rattlesnake — and
managed to tame the taste buds of its regular
party animals. Once upon a time, buffalo wings
and bowls of Tostitos would have been enough

to sate them; Poe got them eating wild-boar
burritos and duck quesadillas.
But in his latest venture, his first as coowner, the chef really ups the ante on his game.
We mean that literally: at Poe’s Tip Tap Room
(138 Cambridge Street, Boston, 857.263.7614),
which opened in June, the menu features enough
animals to fill an ark. The tasty cuts of protein

(the titular “tips”) come from mainstays like cow,
turkey, swordfish, and lamb ($10.95), which was
our favorite. Getting a hint of mint from a glace
and marinade, the tender tips are topped with
tasty tzatziki and balanced by the subtle heft of
accompanying chèvre mashed potatoes. But Poe
also rotates in a daily Wild Game Tip Special,
generally priced at $20, to offer selections that
are a bit more unusual — at least for those of
us without a firearms permit and a closet full of
camouflage. Think yak, elk, and antelope, the last
of which we especially enjoyed; the flavorful meat
— tender like lean beef and slightly sweet — was
marinated in parsley and peppercorn. Poe also
serves some hefty appetizers, including potato
($10.95) topped with seven bacon tips (boar,
pancetta, prosciutto, and more), a cheese sauce
made with PBR beer, and fried oysters. And for a
refreshing summer starter, try the lobster ($12.95),
dripping with mouth-watering basil butter and
served with sides of corn on the cob and coleslaw.
Sure, his Rattlesnake menu added bells and
whistles, giving the spot’s pub food extra bite.
But it’s at the Tip Tap Room that Poe looks set to
make serious noise. The curious may come for
the wide menagerie of meats, but they’ll come
back for a chef who has harnessed his talents
and created a refined menu that leaves us hungry
like the wolf. Or maybe even the yak.

We spent a lot of time in Boston’s nightlife venues “researching” for the Music
issue this month — and while the music was predictably top-notch, the drinks
were typically sub-par. It got us thinking: plenty of our bars boast impressive
beverage programs. Are there any clubbier spots in Boston where you can
actually find well-made drinks?
“The few lounges, restaurants, and bars in Boston that get a great
nightlife crowd and offer decent cocktails are not considered ‘nightclubs’ per
se,” says Teodora Bakardzhieva, bar manager at the Emerald Lounge (200
Stuart Street, Boston, 800.395.7046), which isn’t what you’d traditionally think
of as a club; it’s a lounge with a nightlife vibe. Emerald is one of a relatively
small handful of places — like Julep, Naga, Middlesex Lounge, Descent, and
Storyville — where you can still see a DJ spin or a band perform in a crowded
throng, but have a much better drinking experience than that at a typical club
venue.
It’s not necessarily that the service and drinks at most clubs are
horrible, says Bakardzhieva; it’s just a matter of tailoring your order to your
environment. “In most nightclubs in Boston, the rule of thumb is to stick with
ordering basic cocktails if you want to ensure you get one,” she says. “If you
enjoy a vodka and soda, you’re in luck.”
After all, when people are screaming rapid-fire orders over a loud DJ,
itching to get back to the dance floor, it’s probably not the best time to give a
bartender a complicated order. “It’s not that they [average nightclub drinks]
are bad,” says bartender Mike Cresta of Julep Bar (200 High Street, Boston,
617.261.4200). “It’s that they’re simple. It’s all the same thing: vodka sodas,
vodka Red Bulls, Jack and Cokes — stuff that is simple and quick to make.”
The less fist-pumpy spots still find their bars swarmed when the
nightlife crowds descend. So they take steps to streamline things without
compromising craft. Emerald created its cocktail recipes with the inevitable
time crunch in mind. “All of our cocktails are designed to take less than a
minute to make, which I consider a short time for getting a delicious cocktail,”
says Bakardzhieva. And proving that you don’t need to sacrifice quality for
expediency, the bartenders at Emerald are required to jigger every drink. Yes,
even the vodka sodas.
Back Bay’s Storyville (90 Exeter Street, Boston, 617.236.1134) varies
<40> 7.17.12

the cocktail menu slightly between its two bars. In the lounge area, you can
get something time-consuming — like a multi-spirit, layered Tiki cocktail. On
the clubbier side of the venue, you can get simpler (but still sophisticated)
options — say, a crafty shot like Firewater, a whiskey infused with cinnamon
and honey.
Addition by subtraction also improves things. Sure, you can still get a
Bud, but Storyville doesn’t cram its beer list with predictable macro-swill.
That ensures guests will try more interesting options, like Racer 5 IPA or
Ellie’s Brown Ale. There’s no reason other clubs can’t follow suit by improving
selection and maybe even designating one bar for craftier drinking.
When it comes to cocktail quality at nightclubs, it’s also worth
considering who is making your drink. And look, we don’t mean to be shallow,
but — well, okay, let’s be shallow. Bartenders hired for their eye-popping
implants or bulging, tribal-tattoo-covered biceps generally don’t make the
best Sazeracs and Negonis. That’s our theory.
Bartender Bruno Prado of Storyville is more diplomatic. “I think there is a
different standard for nightclubs and club bartenders,” says Prado. “But who
can blame them [the nightclubs], as most of the drink orders are for vodka
Red Bulls.”
Sometimes there’s simply a difference in how seriously — or should
we say exclusively — bartenders treat their craft. “I find that many club
bartenders work as a second source of income, rather than pursuing
bartending as their profession,” says the Brazilian-born Prado, who did time
at fancier spots like Sel de la Terre. Bakardzhieva is a pro too. She was the
first woman to run the bar at Boston’s famously high-falutin’ Locke-Ober
(which once prohibited women from its dining room). Hiring people who give
a shit is a good idea in any field.
And one other thing: even if the drinks have to come fast and furious,
and even if the staff isn’t the most experienced, there’s one area where even
your average nightclub can succeed if it tries: hospitality.
“I believe good service can be provided anywhere, regardless of the
type of place or the atmosphere,” says Bakardzhieva.
A solid experience can often make up for a lack of technique. A drink in
your hand is good. A drink and a smile on your face is better.

At Home with Joyce Linehan
The PR Maven reveals her living room’s
rock-star past
You think your place has hosted interesting houseguests? Behold publicist Joyce
Linehan’s living room. Today much of Linehan’s time is dedicated to running her
PR company, Ashmont Media, which represents arts entities like the ICA and
ArtsEmerson. But the Ashmont Hill resident has had a storied career in the music
industry; she’s managed many bands and once worked in promotions and A&R
for influential grunge label Sub Pop. (Know anyone else with a gold record of
Nirvana’s Incesticide hanging in her bathroom? We thought not.)
Linehan didn’t just work alongside rock stars. When they swung through
town, her home became the center of their orbit: a spot to write music, kick back
with other artists, and spend the night (or longer). Here, you might have reached
for morning coffee with the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, shared couch
space with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, or clinked bottles with Courtney Love. (The
Hole singer wrote her anthemic “Doll Parts” at Linehan’s home.)
“There was a place like this in every city,” says Linehan of her rock-star
crash pad. As she prepares to sell her home — she’s currently renovating a
Lower Mills house with its own recording studio and ballroom — we stopped by
for a look around and a look back.

— Scott Kearnan

B.

C. and D.

A. Even before Linehan bought it in ’92, the house was already a
hospitable hangout to many. (Local lore has it that a small stage area
in the basement once hosted neighborhood puppet shows.) It was a
gathering spot for Dorchester’s vibrant Lithuanian community, of which
its former homeowner was a member. “When I first moved in, many of
the colors were those of the Lithuanian flag,” says Linehan. Though she
repainted the rooms, we pointed out that her living area’s color scheme
— with its yellow walls, red curtains, and green-flecked couch — still
nods to the flag’s hues. “Totally unintentional!” she chuckles.
B. The former homeowner has since been nicknamed the “Marble Lady”
after the colorful marbles she embedded in the ceiling around various
light fixtures. (Creative? Sure. Curious? Definitely.) Linehan’s living-room
fixture is extra bright, thanks to a half dozen Christmas bulbs that
encircle the main lights. They’ll illuminate any dark corner, and maybe
that’s a good thing: though she’s not a believer in the supernatural
herself, Linehan has heard plenty of tales of Marble Lady hauntings from
overnight guests, including Calexico front man Joey Burns.
C. To complement the overhead fixture, Linehan added dozens of marbles
to the ornate teakwood coffee table directly below. (The red plastic
monkeys? Those are Barrel of Monkeys game pieces, lovingly strewn by
the guys of seminal synth-rock band Six Finger Satellite.) But the table
itself also boasts plenty of personal — and political — history. It was
given to Linehan by her great-uncle, a merchant marine who brought
it back from Hong Kong in the early 1960s. And tucked within the
elaborately carved inset scene is an actual piece of the Berlin Wall. The
wall fell on Linehan’s birthday — November 9, 1989 — and she retrieved
the rock while touring Germany with the rockers of Giant Sand shortly
thereafter.
D. Linehan’s visitors leave behind more than cool memories: they also
sign her guest book, filled with autographs from friends, entertainers
(like Saturday Night Live actor Fred Armisen, who once drummed in the
punk band Trenchmouth), and even some politicians. Linehan is a diehard Democrat, and her living room recently hosted the first Listening
Tour stop for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. We love that Linehan
knows how to rock the house — and the vote.

Out of Tune
I knew my friend was truly in love
with her new girlfriend when she
uttered the following statement:
“I’m taking her to Country Fest.”
Suddenly this arbiter of
musical taste, one who had shaped
my youth’s soundtrack from boy
bands to hair bands, was losing
her sound judgment over love.
Country?! Their relationship must
be placing a lot of emphasis on
that first syllable, if she’s willing to
endure hours of tasteless twang.
There’s a lot I’m willing to
tolerate in a relationship. (Okay, not
really.) But caving to bad taste in
music isn’t palatable to me. In fact,
music has been a deal breaker in
the past.
Maybe this seems trivial
to some of you. But before you
discount music’s contribution to
compatibility, think about the role
it has played in your relationship.
In the beginning, it probably
set the tone for the seduction.
Then heartbreaking ballads and
empowering anthems got you
through the gut-wrenching ups and
downs. And it likely provides the
soundtrack to your sex life! And
no wonder: research has proven
that music — even sans vocals
— can elicit a similar dopamine
response from the brain as a good
orgasm. (Good music, that is. I’m
assuming the same study would
prove that Toby Keith songs could
actually turn a moist vagina into a
sandpapery cat’s tongue.)
And by the way, I’m not the
only one who feels this strongly
about the dangers of discordant
tastes in music.
“I once labored over a mix CD
for a girl for weeks,” recalled one
pal. “When she sent me her mix CD
in return, it was so bad I wanted to
break up immediately!”
“I had one girlfriend who loved
three genres that were all cringeworthy — bad hip-hop, bad Top
40, and country,” admitted another
friend. “It spoke to a larger cultural
void that existed between us.”
Sure, many good relationships
involve compromise. To me, that
means agreeing to drink clear
liquor only after noon. But allow
for compromise in the music
department, and soon you could
be giving blowjobs to a soundtrack
of Nickelback. And what would
compromise really sound like in a
bedroom playlist? Is it Erykah Badu
setting the sultry mood one minute

Brought to you by the Greater Boston Beverage Society, the Boston Bar Stars Hall
of Fame highlights Boston’s own homegrown mixological talent! One of the GBBS’s
main goals is to preserve and promote Boston’s cocktail and hospitality culture and
history. What better way is there to do that than by getting up close and personal
with the city’s ﬁnest?
In October of 2012 the Greater Boston Beverage Society will hold the ﬁrst-ever
Boston Cocktail Summit, a three-day celebration of Greater Boston’s cocktail culture
designed to highlight the city’s fascinating history of mixology, showcase New
England’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries, and raise funds to help local charities.
The Boston Cocktail Summit will celebrate the culture of the cocktail with three
days of events, parties, educational seminars, and an opening gala with proceeds
beneﬁtting the newly established Greater Boston Beverage Society. For more
information visit www.bostoncocktailsummit.com.

and then Blake Shelton prattling on
about his pickup the next? That’s
enough to make even the sturdiest
strap-on go soft.
Maybe I’m so passionate
about this because, historically,
I’ve had music-savvy significant
others. They’ve served as my
Pitchfork, working like cute little
curators to distill the vast musical
ocean into tiny droplets that
tickle my ears. Music, shared
music, figured prominently in
our relationships. And when they
ended, my memories of those
partners became inseparable from
the sounds that accompanied
them. She was Cocteau Twins.
He was Morcheeba. She was
Radiohead. The few boring blips in
between came with Southern rock
and cacophonous techno.
But if you’re one of those
willing to change your sonic
standards for sex, there may
be hope. Maybe what begins
as a compromise could be an
entry point to genuine interest.
Remember that cowgirl I
mentioned earlier? Turns out she
lassoed her lady into not just
listening to her music, but liking it.
“When we finally talked about
music preference, no sparks flew,
but I saw it as a work in progress,”
she remembers. “In my heart, I
knew there was an illiterate, inbred,
beer-drinking cowgirl itching to
come out.”
You know, someone should
write a country song about that.

Meet Michael Stevens. Having toured with the likes of The Beastie Boys, De La Soul,
and A Tribe Called Quest, the now front man of the power trio The Dawg and Poni
Show has no hesitation when it comes to performing in front of a crowd or behind a
bar. The Boston Music Award winner loves to blend “spirited” harmonies in cocktails
at Silvertone Bar and Grill. His
craft cocktails (more savory than
sweet) coupled with his ability to
make you feel right as rain can’t
be beat. Don’t hesitate to ask how
he can make you feel like a star!
• Michael’s ﬁrst bar job in
Boston? Small Planet Bar
and Grill
• The spirit Michael can’t live
without? Tequila!
• Michael’s guilty pleasure
cocktail? A White Russian “Tom
Mastricola style”... Find out what
that means for yourself!
• What Michael is most looking
forward to at the Boston Cocktail
Summit? Hanging out with cool
like-minded people!
• Michael’s advice for surviving
the Boston Cocktail Summit in
one piece: Eat well and stay
hydrated!
• What Michael is drinking right
now: A Happy Meal #2. For those
of you who know, cheers! For those
that don’t know, ﬁnd out!

— Jeannie Greeley

Jeannie Greeley is a freelance
writer in a harmonious relationship.
She can be reached at
jeannieg@comcast.net.

Brian Coleman’s STUFF
Brian Coleman has a record collection that would make even the most wellstocked DJ swoon. The marketing maven, writer, and hip-hop fiend runs
his own PR and event-management agency, Good Road, which works with
artsy clients, especially musicians. It’s clear music consumes him off-hours,
too. Coleman owns a collection of rare vinyl worth tens of thousands of
dollars, stashed away in a subterranean man cave. He surfaced to discuss
his favorite tunes, his high-school concert memories, and the Fat Boys.
Let’s say your home bursts into flames. Which records would you
save? There are certain items that are trophies and certain ones that
you play. Death Mix by Afrika Bambaataa is probably the one that I love
the most because it’s both. It is an incredible record, and it’s rare. As a
collector, the original I have is special to me: it looks rare, and it basically
came out in 1983, when hip-hop was becoming more of a studio art form.
But Death Mix is a cassette tape made at a live event that they put on vinyl.
It presented hip-hop in its most raw and original form, as a live thing. Also,
if you hold it, the vinyl is thick. It’s a hefty record to hold in your hand. I also
love it because Afrika Bambaataa’s name was spelled three different ways;
it’s hip-hop and all its warts.
What was your first concert? It was 1985 or 1986 — I was 15 or 16 at
the time. There was a club in Trenton, New Jersey, called City Gardens. I
believe it was Dirty Rotten Imbeciles. When you’re that young, your only
social interaction is school. [A concert] is a clique of likeminded people
coming together, a sense of community 180 degrees from anything I felt in
social interactions. I didn’t like high school; I don’t think most people did. It
was an escape. It was something very energizing.
What makes Boston a great music city? I think that Boston has an edge,
and you’re kind of free. We don’t try to compete with New York or LA or any
<46> 7.17.12

of the big music cities. It frees you up to be more independent and do what
you want to do. Not the pressure of, “I want to get signed. A rep could be at
my show at any time. Am I playing the right clubs?” There’s a working-class
aesthetic: “I’m going to make the best music and the best art I can, and
screw whatever else happens.” It’s less pretentious overall.
What are your favorite clubs? I’m a bit of a curmudgeon with clubs. The
Middle East is my favorite; they have always been huge supporters of the
scene. It’s an institution, and it’s still kind of a family-owned place.
How’s business? There’s one thing not up on my website [good-road.net]
yet: I’m starting a record label. It will debut before September. We’ll be
small-scale at first, vinyl only. I can’t talk about the artists on it yet, but the
first couple of artists are established Boston musicians and groups who are
presented in different ways.
Do people really still want albums? Yes! There’s a beautiful thing that I
am thrilled about: a local company called Traffic Entertainment, based in
Malden, and another label, kind of part of that orbit, called Get on Down —
the people who run these labels are old friends of mine, and they specialize
in really unique packaging. They have re-mastered the first Fat Boys album
— remember them? — and done the liner notes with all these extra photos
and old posters. It’s presented in a mini pizza box. As much as people find
it convenient to have iTunes, it goes against human nature.
What’s your favorite song? “Bring the Noise” by Public Enemy. That
record still blows my mind when I hear it. It certainly did in 1987. I get
excited by the same music now that I did at 17. I prefer to think of it as, you
know, “I liked it then, and it still has that same power and timeless quality.”
You could also say it’s immaturity.

— Kara Baskin

PHOTO BY michael diskin

Elaine and Jerome Rosenfeld

summer 2012
Enjoy an evening under
the stars in the music-filled
Calderwood Courtyard

The Campbell Brothers

The Campbell Brothers
July 11

Ghost Train Orchestra

Prepare yourself for a “sound as hot
as brimstone that kicks holy butt”
(NPR). Get your groove on with electric
steel-guitar driven gospel music.

July 18

Celebrate with “music from the
heart of the Jazz Age that still
has a raucous immediacy”
(The Boston Phoenix).

Don’t miss this perennial favorite—“a virtuoso guitar
player and mood shaper . . . whose mature work is
comparable to the best of Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda
Williams” (The New York Times).

Animal Hospital Ensemble

Red Baraat

Freshlyground

Freshlyground
August 15

You heard their hit song with Shakira during the 2010
World Cup. Join South Africa’s legendary Afro-fusion
band for a dance party that crosses cultures and generations.
Patty Larkin

Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three

Red Baraat

August 22

August 29

Newport Jazz Festival favorites play a mix of original hits and
early jazz, string ragtime, country blues, and western swing.

For more information,
visit www.mfa.org /concerts.

“One of the best party bands around, Red Baraat
plays rollicking funk music steeped in northern
India’s wedding celebrations, with a dash of DC
go-go beats and hip-hop” (NPR).
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three